SICK BUILDING SYNDROME: SYMPTOMS PREVALENCE AMONG WORKERS OF A SEALED OFFICE BUILDING COMPARING WITH THOSE OF A NON-SEALED OFFICE BUILDING

摘要

To compare the prevalence of symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) among office workers, a cross-sectional study was performed, involving 1,736 workers of a sealed office building (edifice 1) and 950 employees of a non sealed, natural ventilated, building (edifice 2), in Rio de Janeiro downtown. The standardized questionnaire of the Royal Society of Health Advisory Group on SBS was used to determine the prevalence of symptoms. Upper airways and ophthalmic symptoms, tiredness and headache were highly prevalent in both buildings. Some symptoms were more prevalent in edifice 1: "dryness of the eyes" 33.3% and 27.1% (p: 0.0 1); "runny nose" 37.3%and 31.3% (p: 0.03); "dry throat" 42% and 36% (p: 0.02); and "lethargy" 58.5% and 50.5% (p: 0.03) respectively. The greater prevalence of some SBS symptoms in the sealed building can be related to a higher concentration of indoor air pollutants.